Coin dispensing mechanism



Dec. 20, 1949 g, c, McPHERSQN 2,491,573

COIN DISPENS ING MECHANISM Filed July 16, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 TJ :3: Z

INVENTOR. 6m mm 6'. fl P/ims a N A TTOkNEY 1949 c. c. MOPHERSON COIN DISPENSING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 16, 1947 JNVEIXQTOR. z E CM HE/FSON Q ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,4915% Gem Dis'PfiNsING MECHANISM Clarence ClMcPherson Tacoma, Wash. xtpiicationihiyui 1s4vi'seriai-Noi 761,261 6-Clainis (e15 13s- This invention relates to coin dispensing mechanism; and" isactfimfiushomimpartor-my abandoned copendlng api'ilieation Serial No. 6445085, filed Jenuaryze swq V e e It isthe common practice iirbank'sjstores and other places of business 'tdprovi'de coin dispensers whereby change 'inaizlb quickly "and" accurately nia'de. Deiiice sfofthis' ch'afaetefusiially are relativeiy complicated and" exbefi'sive to manage ture, and" hamin -1y their" use vis sorn'etinies financially burden me, if 'not' prohibitive.

importantobjeet of the-'{pre'sen'tinvention istdpibvid' a highlj'sihiblifidforrn 'o'f'a coii'i' dispenser for making.eharie'fwhichieiiiploysi a minimum nurnberofpart's' and which is "quickly and. readily operable V v i A further objeet'isto rams a device ofthis character "wherein a sir'n'pljeffin'g'ei 'hieoeis spa-= able to dispense come with the hand held in a positionto receive the" coins dispensed. from the device. e H

further object is' toproilid'e'a simplified mm of dispenser which is carried solely by the coin tube in which the supply of coins 'is maintained.

A' further object is to providea' simplified form ofsupporfting' and mounting means for'a dispenser "of thechara'etei referred to which is highly attractive iri appearance" and which sup? ports the dispensing nechanismin aconvenient' position for "operation. I

A"furtherobjeet isto provide a coin dispenser: of the type just referred towherein the mount ingiand supportin'g'nieans" for the dispenser is connected in a novel manner tofa 'base of simple structure which readily [may be designed to hold one or any number of, cdindis'pehsin'g' devices;

A further object is to provide" a base and mounting arrangement for a plurality of coin dis pensers wherein the same base may beemployed' with selected coin dispensers in accordance with v the coins whieh are' usuall'y' dispensed in the greatest quantities; r v V Other objects and advantages" of the invention will'be apparentduring theicourseof the follow Figure 4 isanenlarged vertical sec'tioiialView taken through the axis of one of thtdiridis' pensi'n 'g" units longitudinally ofthe diiet'ion of movement of the dispensing elemefits andtakeri substantially-whims 4 4fofF'i'gure Figure'5 is an en1arged;13ersp'ectiv View of the movable unit of one ofth e" dispehsing elerheritsh Figure"? is 'a detail sectional view on line 1 'I of Figure 4.

Referring particularly to Figureslje, 4-?and 6; the numeral It designates the base of one type of mechanism designed for supporting two dispensing de'vicesi It'will become'apparent that the base l0 may: be designedior-a sirigledispehs mg" unit or any praticable' number of such units: The base 10' comprises atop "pl'ate-portioh ll having depending -edge"flanges I 2 "on; which the device-is supported. Thetop plateportion'll is provided in thepresent instance Withtwoopen ings M defined 'by adependim;Pfiange I5 formed integrai with the-base." One" side "ofth'e flange I5 'is" inclined from 'the=horiZonta1 as at 16 (Fig ure 4) -for a purposeto be" described.

A supporting arm indicatedas a"who1e-by-'the nur'n'eral i8 is associated with each ope-hing I 4; Each arm -18 is provided with 'a fiatbottom portion I9 adapted to-seat on the plate por'tioi1*-||; and" is further provided with a depending lug 20 corresponding 'in 'horizontal cross sectional shape 'to eachopening 1 I 4 and adapted-tome ar= rangedtherein. i.

Each arm" I Bisprovided'with avertical open? ihg"22 there through substantially centrally of the lug 20 and; rotatably receiving a' rock-' shaft 23: This shaft is sh0wn-as being-provided with'an integral projection 24 extending perpendicularly tlas fin pie T 5 ee erid ule to h lf clsha an e x eesl n -et i ht an e my theme jection 24 When the finger-piece 25 is in the position shown in Figures 1 and 4;, the projection 24 will be arranged'beneath and in gagement with the inclined surface I 6 toloclithe arrn {Ste the base [0. It wil1be-obvious that either 18 may b'quickly released from theb ase bi! t ni thej'a'sisociated ringer piece z ithroiigh '90 in the direetibnbrniov'ement'mdieata' hi the at: row in Figure 6.

Each arm |8 is provided at its upper end with a cylindrical sleeve 28 preferably formed integral with the arm and inclined from the vertical as shown in Figures 1 and 4 to facilitate the operation of the device, as will become apparent. Each sleeve 28 supports a coin tube 29 projecting therethrough as shown in Figure 4. Such coin tube may be supported in any suitable manner, for example by a setscrew 35. Each coin tube is provided with sight openings 3| to facilitate determining the depth of the stack of coins in the tube, and each tube is preferably flared at its upper end as at 32 to facilitate the loading of the tube.

Below each sleeve is arranged a dispensing head 35 shaped generally as shownin Figure 1. Each head 35 is generally rectangular in plan and is provided with down turned flanges 36 forming an internal recess 31, open at the bottom of the head 35, for a purpose to be described. Each head 35 is provided with an upwardly extending annular flange portion 38 receiving the lower end of one of the tubes 29. Such tube is secured in the flange 38 in any suitable manner, for example by having a driving fit therewith.

A spacer block 40 is arranged in the recess 3! and is fixed with respect to the associated head 35 in any suitable manner, as by screws 4| extending through the side flanges 36. The spacer block 40 is provided with an opening 42 in axial alignment with and corresponding in size to the internal diameter of the tube 29, such diameter depending upon the particular coins to be dispensed from each unit.

The spacer block of each unit is associated with a movable coin dispensing unit indicated as a whole by the numeral 45. Such unit comprises upper and lower plates 46 and 41 the former of which operates in the space provided for this purpose above the spacer block 40, as shown in Figure 2. The plate 47 operates against the bottom surface of the spacer block 40. The plate is provided with an opening 48 normally arranged in axial alignment with the tube 29 and of the same diameter as the internal diameter of such tube. One edge of the opening 48 is tapered as at 49, Figure 4, to slice between coins of a stack in the device when a plurality of coins is to be dispensed, as described in detail below. The plate 4'! is provided with a similar opening 5| of the same size but normally offset axially from the stack of coins as shown in Figure 4.

The plate 46 has one end thereof turned downwardly as at 53, approximately perpendicular to the body of the plate 46, and is then bent inwardly at a slight angle at its lower edge as at 54. The corresponding end of the plate 41 has a down-turned flange fixed in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the down-turned end 53. Accordingly the plates 46 and 41 are fixed together for movement as a unit.

' The plate 41 (Figure 5) is provided with a slot Gil-receiving the shank of a screw 6| threaded in the block 4|! and carried thereby. The head of the screw 6| fixes the forward end of the plate 4"! against possible downward flexing. The inher end'of the slot 66 may engage the screw 6| to limit forward movement of the dispensing element 45, or the advancing edge 62 of the plate 46 may engage the surface 63 of the flange 36 to limit such movement. The limit of movement referred to will occur when the opening 5| is axially aligned with the coin tube, as will be apparent.

The spacer block 40 carries a stationary rod 65 threaded thereinto as shown in Figure 4 and this rod is surrounded by a spring 66 one end of which engages the adjacent end of the block 40 and the other end of which engages the end 53 of the plate 46. The spring 66 urges the dispensing element 45 toward the left to the normal position shown in Figure 4, and the inner stems 68 of screws 69, carried by the side flanges 36 engage the down-turned end 53 to limit movement of the dispensing element 45 to normal position.

Operation The combined arm and dispensing structures are preferably made up in units having tubes 29 and the associated coin dispensing elements in predetermined sizes according to the coins to be dispensed by each unit. These units are selected for connection with the base H1 in accordance with the requirements of the purchaser. The base l0 obviously will be the same regardless of the particular coins to be dispensed and will vary only according to the number of dispensing units to be supported.

The proper dispensing units and the proper base |ll having been selected, the finger piece 25 of each unit will be turned in the direction of the arrow in Figure 6, whereupon the associated lug 20 will be inserted in the proper opening H. The finger piece 25 will'be turned back to a position corresponding to the position shown in Figures 1 and 4 to bring the projection 24 into clamping engagement with the associated incline l6. Thus each unit is rigidly connected to the base HI, and is easily connected to and detached from the base. If, in the use of one of the devices, it is desired to change the denomination of the coins to be dispensed by any unit, such unit is readily detachable and replaceable by the desired unit.

Each tube 29 is filled to the desired extent with the proper coins and these coins will drop to the bottom of the dispenser to be supported by the plate 41, the opening 5| of which is normally substantially out of alignment with the coin stack. The number of coins to be dispensed at any given operation will be determined by the distance from the top of the plate 41 to the top of the spacer 40. For example, if quarters are to be dispensed, this distance normally will be equal to the thickness of four quarters, change for a dollar. If pennies are to be dispensed, the distance referred to usually will be equal to the thickness of five pennies, etc.

To operate the device, the operator will place his hand beneath the head 36, palm up, and with the tips of his fingers behind the flange 54, he will pull forwardly to move the dispensing element 45 in the same direction against the tension of the spring 66. The edge 49 will push ahead of it the coin lying in its plane of movement and will move beneath the next adjacent upper coin. The sharpened edge 49 facilitates movement of the plate 46 beneath the latter coin which, together with all of the coins thereabove, will be supported by the plate 46. When the dispensing element reaches its forward limit of movement, the opening 5| will align with the opening 42, and

the predetermined number of coins within the vertical limits of the spacer block 40 will drop through the opening 5| into the palm of the operator. The operator merely holds the coins and releases the finger piece 54, whereupon the parts return to normal position, the coin displaced by the edge 49 being moved back into alignment with the coin stack. Theopening 48 will again align with the opening 42 and the coin stack will drop to the extent of the thickness of the predeterdietersmined number j of coins previously dispensed? The device is readily assembled as willbeobvious from m dia gs, 'The sp'acer=blocks4fl may a l .7 miemasg ddn the desired depthf to predetermine the ofQcoins tobe dispensed. The mgp1eijn ntstew1 1 bemade so that the distance between the plates Adand 41, will: correspondtojth'e thicknessoif the blo c k Mlused therepe' ati are housed within the headand thelus Qfl thalatterQis' permitted While using .an: attractive structure byleurving the supporting arm,-i8 shownin, Figure 1.; Allofthe supporting partsare ,carnied and: supported, by-the head Y. 36 ot eaehlm fiwand each unit is, wholly and solely bat e assoei t dlt e 9 It; will be'apparentthat bases iii may be made 'any=;-numbereofgdispensing units and the un ...are substantially identical with each other and allow largely for the duplication of be made with openings-"42- oi the deslred' 6.. support all of the coinsthereabove and the-open ing in said lower "plate being adapted to assume a position aligned with theopeningin saidspacer block whereby the *-coins inthe latter are free to drop by gravity through the opening in saidlo'wer plate.

2. A'coinlidispenser comprising a-coin-tube; a headat the lower end oi said. tube; said head having an upstanding annular flange surround-' ing and engaging said tube whereby saidhead is supported solely by said tube; said head having depending fiangesdorming a downwardly open in recess therebetween; a spacer block in said{ recess fixedfat opposite sides to the adjacent flanges, a dispensin element in said recess com-- parts in manuiactures; For example, the arms it! will be cast identical and the openings through the sleeves 28" will 'bedrilledin accordance with the size of the coin tubes 29. The heads may be similarly manuracturedidentically and similarly drilledaccording to the coinsto. be dispensed.

Particular attention is invited, to theinterchang abili yof the dispensing nnits relative .to th"'base I0 Any arm lit'and ,assoeiatedparts n connection witld'the opening. .ld o ny ,basa, regardless of thenumber of units forwhi'ch such base isdesighed. If a purchaser of the device finds, for example, that he needs one less nickel tube and one more quarter tube to meet his requirements, he need purchase only a single quarter unit to replace one of the nickel units. Thus he is enabled to secure a dispensing apparatus as a whole fitted to his needs, and if such needs are not properly satisfied with the apparatus as purchased, it is merely necessary for him to buy asingle dispensing unit to replace one of the original units.

I claim:

'1. A coin dispenser comprising a coin tube, means for supporting said tube, a head fixed solely to said tube at the lower end thereof, said head having depending side flanges, a spacer block fixed to said side flanges and having a coin opening aligned with said tube, and a dispensing element comprising upper and lower plates arranged respectively above and below said spacer block and slidably engaged therewith for movement in a line perpendicular to the axis of said tube from a predetermined normal position, one of said plates having opposite edges contacting with said flanges to be guided thereby for movement in said line, said upper plate having an opening normally aligned with said tube and said lower plate having a coin opening normally out of alignment with the opening in said spacer block whereby said lower plate normally supports coins inserted in said tube, and means biasing said dispensing element to said normal position, said upper plate, when said dispensing element is moved away from said normal position being adapted to slice through the stack of coins to prising spaced upperandlower plates fixed to'= each other and arranged respectively above and below said spacer block, said'upperplate having an opening normally in alignment with said'tube; said lower plate having an opening normally out of alignment withsaidtube, said spacer blocls' having an opening in-alignment with saidtube and with the openingin said upper plate when the latter is in normal position whereby a stack .2 of coins will be supported by-saidlowerplate when said dispensing elementis in normal posi-- tion, and spring means: biasing said dispensing device to normalposition; said dispensing de-- vice being in'sliding contact. with said spacer block and. with two iofi-saidu flangesto be guided thereby for movement-fromsaid positionto an operative position withmhe'openingzin said up perplate out of" alignmentrlwith said itubdaiidr with l the openingqin said lower. plate in align ment with the opening in said block 3. A coin dispenser comprisinga coin:tube, means for supportin said tube between its endsyi a head fixed solely to the lower end of said tube; said head having depending,sidegand endi flanges"; defining a downwardly opening Lelongate'd recess, a spacer block in said recess fixed to said side flanges, a dispensing device in said recess comprising spaced upper and lower plates fixed to each other at one end and being slidable longitudinally of said recess in engagement with the top and bottom faces respectively of said block, opposite edges of said plates slidably engaging said side flanges, said dispensing device having a normal position and said upper and lower plates having coin openings respectively in and out of alignment with said tube when said dispensingdevice is in said normal position, said spacerblock having a coin opening in alignment with; said tube whereby a stack of coins in the device.

- will be normally supported by said bottom plate and resilient means biasing said dispensing device to said normal position, said dispensin device being movable longitudinally of said recessto an operative position with the opening in said upper plate out of alignment with said tube and with the opening in said lower plate in alignment with the opening in said spacer block.

4. A coin dispenser comprising a coin tube, a head at the lower end of said tube, said head having an upstanding annular flange surrounding and engaging said tube whereby said head is supported solely by said tube, said head having depending flanges forming a downwardly opening recess therebetween, a spacer block in said recess fixed at opposite sides to the adjacent flanges, a dispensing element in said recess comprising spaced upper and lower plates fixed to each other and arranged respectively above and below said spacer block, said upper plate having an opening normally in alignment with said tube, said lower plate having an opening normally out of alignment with said tube, said spacer block having an opening in alignment with said tube and with the opening in said upper plate when the latter is in normal position whereby a stack of coins will be supported by said lower plate when said dispensing element is in normal position, said dispensing device being in sliding contact with said spacer block and with two of said flanges to be guided thereby for movement from said position to an operative position with the opening in said upper plate out of alignment with said tube and with the opening in said lower plate in alignment with the opening in said block, and resilient means biasing said dispensing device to normal position, said resilient means comprising a coil spring between one end of said spacer block and the adjacent end of said dispensing device.

5. A coin dispenser comprising a coin tube, means for supporting said tube between its ends, a head fixed solely to the lower end of said tube, said head having depending side and end flanges defining a downwardly opening recess elongated perpendicular to the axis of said tube, a spacer blockin said recess having side edges arranged adjacent said side flanges and fixed thereto, and a dispensing devic in said recess comprising spaced upper and lower plates arranged respectively above and below said block and having side edges contacting said side flanges to be guided thereby for movement longitudinally of said recess from a normal position to an operative position, said upper and lower plates having coin openings respectively in and out of alignment with said tube when said dispensing device is in normal position, said spacer block having a coin opening in alignment with said tube whereby a stack of coins in the device will be normally supported by said bottom plate, said plates being connected at one end and having a fixed depending finger piece at such end.

6. A coin dispenser comprising a coin tube, means for supporting said tube between its ends, a head fixed solely to the lower end of said tube, said head having depending side and end flanges defining a downwardly opening recess elongated perpendicular to the axis of said tube, a spacer block in said recess having side edges arranged adjacent said side flanges and fixed thereto, a dispensin device in said recess comprising spaced upper and lower plates arranged respectively above and below said block and having side edges contacting said side flanges to be guided thereby for movement longitudinally of said recess from a normal position to an operative position, said upper and lower plates having coin openings respectively in and out of alignment with said tube when said dispensing device is in normal position, said spacer block having a coin opening in' alignment with said tube whereby a stack of coins in the device will be normally supported by said bottom plate, said plates being connected at one end and having a fixed depending finger piece at such end, and resilient means between said dispensing device and said block biasing said dispensing device to said normal position.

CLARENCE C. MCPHERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the:

file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

